Stocking dyeing form



Sept. 27, 1960 2,953,915

W. E. BRAINERD STOCKING DYEING FORM Original Filed April 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WALTER EBRA/NERD dTTORNEYJ Sept. 27, 1960 w. 1 BRAINERD 2,953,915 s'rocxinc 'DYEING FORM I 7 Original Filed April 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. MLTER f. BRA/NERD ATTORNEYS United StatesPatentofiice 2,953,915 Patented Sept. 27, 1960 STOCKING DYEING FORM Walter E. Brainerd, Mayes County, kla., assignor to Munsingwear, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to an apparatus for making a shaded stocking. More particularly, this invention relates to a dyeing form for making ladies full-fashion and seamless stockings knit from nylon, rayon, silk or similar fine filamentary material made from either natural or synthetic fibers wherein selected portions of the stockings are shaded darker and lighter to create the illusion of slimmer or heavier legs.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide means by which ladies stockings may be dyed so as to be progressively shaded in selected areas.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by the drawings in which the same numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ladies stocking progressively shaded from darker to lighter from the center of the side of the stocking toward the front and the back thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a modified form of ladies stocking progressively shaded from darker to lighter from the front and the back thereof toward the center of the sides; 1

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a dyeing form over which a stocking is applied for production of progressive shading of selected portions of the stocking;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stocking dyeing form;

Figure 5 is an end elevation showing the stocking dyeing form mounted on the edge of the dye tank of a dyeing machine, and showing in broken lines the positioning of the forms in the tank; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the 7 line 66 of Figure 5 and in the direction of the arrows showing the manner in which the stockings are disposed over the dyeing forms for application of the dye in progressively shaded areas.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is here shown in side elevation a ladies stocking indicated generally at 10 and having a central darker shaded longitudinal portion 11 oneachside extending from the top 12 of the stocking to its toe 13. The darker shaded area 11 is generally tapered as is the human leg. The shading is darkest along the center line of the shaded area extending from top to toe and becomes progressively lighter in the direction toward the front 14 and toward the back 15 of the stocking. V

For best effect eachOf the predominantly darker shaded areas on opposite sides of the stocking desirably occupies from about one-fifth to about one-third of the circumference of the stocking depending upon the place along the length of the stocking at which the measurement is made. For example, a greater percentage of the circumference ofthe stocking is shaded predominantly darker in the vicinity of the ankle 16 Where the circumference of the stocking is the least. On the other hand, less of the circumference of the stocking is shaded darker in the area of the calf where the circumference of the stocking is greater and where the greatest illusory efiect is desired. 7

Stockings dyed with shading generally according to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 create the illusion of. slimmer legs when worn. The eye of a vieweris directed more sharply upon the more pronounceddarker area along the center of eachside of the wearers leg with the result that attention is drawn from the front of the leg and more particularly from the .calf. The slimmer slightly tapered darker shaded straight side portions of the leg are emphasized with resulting de-emphasis of the front and back leg contours. The morale of women having heavy legs is boosted as a result of their knowledge that the heaviness of their legs has become less apparent to the casual observer because of the use of shaded stockings according to this invention.

The reverse effect is created by the modified form of shaded stocking shown in side elevation in Figure 2. According to this modified form of the invention, the stocking indicated generally at 10A is provided with a front darker shaded longitudinal band or area 11F and a back darker shaded longitudinal band' or area 11B. Thedarker shaded areas are separated on both sides of the stocking by a lighter shaded or an unshaded longi-' tudinal band or panel 18 which is generally tapered and extends from the top 12A of the stocking to the toe 13A. The front darkershaded area 11F is progressively shaded from darker to lighter from the, front edge 14A ofthe stocking back toward the lighter or unshaded panel 18. Similarly, the back darker shaded area 11B is shaded progressively from darker to lighter from the back edge or seam 15A of the stocking forwardly toward the lighter or unshaded area 18.

For. maximum illustoryr effect the combined darker shaded areas 11F and 11B preferably occupy from about one-third to three-fifths of the circumference of the stocking depending upon where along the length of the stocking the measurement is made. A smaller percentage of the total circumference of the stocking will be shaded predominantly darker atthe ankle, for example, where the circumference of the stocking is the least, whereas a substantially larger percentage of the total circumference of the stocking will be shaded darker around the calf area where the circumference of the stocking is greater.

This modified form of shadedstocking tends to direct I the attention of a casual observer toward the front and back portions of the leg of one wearing the stocking and, by this means, makes the leg appear fuller than it actually is. Thus spindly legs are given a more substantial appearance When sheathed in the shaded stockings according to the modified form of this invention.

Referring to Figures 3 to 6, there is shown generally the means by which the desired progressive shading is obtained. A plurality of dyeing forms each indicated generally at 20 are aligned in generally parallel spaced relation extending outwardly from a channel member 21 which is secured to a shaft 22 journaled for.rotation adjacent the edge of a tank 24 of a stocking dyeing machine. The dyeing form 20 comprises a rigid closed loop member extending out from the channel member 21 and including a generally straight front leg portion 26 terminating in a looped toe portion 27 and' then extending back from the toe portion 27 is a relatively short straight foot section 28, an arcuate heel portion 29, and a slightly outwardly bowed back leg or cal-f portion 30 terminating at the channel member 21.

It will be noted that the closed loop member of the dyeing form is in the shape of -a stretched-out stocking and lies generally in aplane except for the-heel portion 29 which projects slightly out of the plane. The dyeing form 20 is completed by an elongated straight rigid rod member 31 projecting from the channel member 21 and spaced above and between the elongated portions 26 and 30 of the loop member of the dyeing form. The free end of the rod member 31- is rounded and the rod terminates within and slightly above the toe loop 27. As shown in- Figure 6- a section through the dyeing form indicates that the members of the dyeing form he generally at theapices of a triangle which at most placesalong the formapproximates an equilateral triangle. The members of the stocking dyeing-form are preferably constructed fromstainless steel rod' or'simil'ar corrosion-resistant material;

The closedloop member of the dyeing form 'andthe straight rod member 31 both are inclined slightly toward one another (at an angle of from about 1 todegrees from perpendicular with respect to the surface of the channel member) so that the overall form tapers slightly from the channel member 2 1 'toward the toe portion 27 of the dyeingform. The channel member 21 carrying a plurality of dyeing forms 20 is adapted to be pivoted on the shaft 22 into the tank 24 of dyestuff for shaded dyeing of the stockings as hereinafter'described. The particular embodiment of-dyeingf'orm here illustrated is for the purpose of produeing'the embodiment of shaded stockingshown in Figure 1. To produce the embodiment of stocking-shown in Figure 2, the same formis used with the stocking placed on'the form with the front and back preboarding creases-or" the center ofthe frontand back of the stocking followingthe straight rod portion 31 of the dyeing form.

Toproduce the shaded stocking of Figure 1', one undyed stocking is-placed on each form with the toe portion 27of the form being introduced into theopen top 12; of the stocking much in the same manner as a stocking is pulled on over the foot; After a small amount of stocking ,is, placed over' the form, the centers of the opposite side edges of the top 12' of. the stocking are grasped together and lifted over thelroundedendofthe straight rod 31 of the dyeing form. The stocking is then pulled onto the form over its entirelength where it is maintained slightly stretched.

As seen particularly in Figure 6, the back edge portion 15 or seamor backpreboarding crease, or center of the back of the stocking will lie along the elongated portion 30 of the loop. The. heel of the stocking will lie over the projection 29 of. the dyeing form and the toe of thestocking is positioned around the toe portion 27 of the dyeing form. Thefront edge portion 14, or front preboarding crease, or center ofthe front of the stocking lies along the straight edge portion 26 of the dyeing form loop. Both side portions of the stocking intended to form the darker shaded areas 11 are folded and stretched in a double thickness overthe straight rod portion 31 of the dyeing form.

It will be readily seen that when the dyeing forms and channel member 21 are tilted into the tank 24 of the dyeing machine, the sideedge portions of the stocking lying in double thicknessover the rod 31 will lie toward the bottom of the tank. The progressively darker shading of the side portions is achieved by varying the. contacts time of the darker shaded areas of the stocking with the dye bath. This is done by varying the level of .the bath of dyestuff so that the centers of thedarkest shaded side areas directly overlying the rod 31 remain in .the dyestufi bath for the longest time.

According to the usual and preferred procedure, after all of-the stockings have been properly placed upon-the dyeing forms, the forms are rotated into the tank which is previously filled with a liquid dyestufi bath to a depth suflicient to submerge the forms. The stocking forms are lowered slowly into the dye'bath so as to avoid trapping any air in the stockings and to prevent the stockings from turning on the forms. The entire stockings are permitted to remain submerged for a predetermined time depending upon the particular dyestuff used, the desired color, degree of shading, aflinity of the stocking fibers for the dyestufi, and the like. This submersion produces theunshaded or lighter colored areas of the shaded stocking;

After the predetermined time period has elapsed, the level of the dye bath is loweredto below the level of the closed loop member of'the stocking dyeing form carrying the front and back edge portions of thestocking. The dye bath level'is' maintained atthis intermediate stage for a second predetermined period to permit the now exposed front and back edge portions of the stockingand stocking for-mto drain; Since these portions havehad the shortesfcontact time with the dye bath, they will have the lightest color in the finished stocking. The level of the dyefbatli is'again' lowered and held for a predetermined time exposingto the air intermediate portions of'st'ocking surface immediately adjacent the front and back portions. These intermediate stocking areas will be. shadedslightly darker becauseof their slightly longer contact with the' dyestufi'. The level of the dye bath is thus progressively lowered and held at intervals with the result that the double thickness por tions of the stocking along the center of the side panels of the stockings immediately overlying the rod 31 remain in the bath for the longest exposure time and'thus emerge 'as the darkest shaded areas.

Because of the slight deviation of the dyeing form from normal with respect'to the channel member 21, the shaded areas produced by immersion in the bath are tapered from widerat the top to narrower toward-the toe of the stocking. Where the step-wise progressions in the shaded areas due to differences in exposure to the dyestuff are visibly apparent and' the lines of demarcation between the progressive shaded areas are sharp, the stocking is preferably completely submerged in a second bath ofslightly darker color to blendthe colors and to make more gradual'the change from one shaded area to the next darker or lighter area.

The identical procedure is followed for producing shaded stockings accordingvto Figure 2 except that be cause. of. the .changeof. relative position-of the elements of 'the dyeing form, the position of the stocking with respect to the, level ofthe dye bath is reversed. Because of this,,the front and'back edge portions of the stocking will'i'emain submerged in the dyestufibath for the longest period of time and-Willemerge'with the darkest shading.

It 'will'be readily apparent that this invention is not dependent upon: the. use of any: particular dyestuff or uponany particularcolor. Any of the dyestulfs conventionally used to. color stockings may obviously be used in carrying out this inventiorn Likewise the shaded stocking of this invention maybemade in any: of the popularly fashionable colors: to keep apace of current fashion.

The. invention is further-illustratedby-the following example which is equally adaptableto the'pr'oduction of stockings. according to :-the embodiments of either Figure l. or FigureZ:

Example A dyeing'machine'is. used'havin'g a channel 21' with 24-dyeing forms evenly spaced along'the channel to permit the'simultaneous-dyeing and shading of one dozen pairs of stockings. Thetahk of the machine-is filledwith hot water at to c0ver thedyeingforms'when'in the tank' by about one-half inch About 1.8 pounds of Naccanol SL,v a wettingagentand-dyeingjassistant, and 7 pounds: tetrasodium pyrophosphate are: dissolved and permit further lowering of the dye bath level.

thoroughly mixed with the hot water. A concentrated solution of dissolved ombre acetate dyestuff is added and mixed thoroughly. I The nylon stockings are placed on the forms, care being taken to keep the seams or the front and back preboarding crease or thecenters of. the fronts and back of the stockings straight on the rods. The temperature of the dye bath is maintained at 140 F. at the time of submersion of the stocking forms into the dye. The forms are pivoted and lowered slowly into the: dye tank so that air will not be trapped in the stockings. The stockings on the forms are held under the dye for 30 seconds after which the dye tank drain is opened part way and dye is slowly drained from the tank for two and one-half minutes to slowly lower the level of the dye in the tank. At the same time, steam is introduced into the dye bath to raise its temperature.

With the steam entering, the tank is permitted to slowly drain for one additional minute and then the level of the dye bath is maintained for an additional minute and onehalf by closing the drain. The drain is then again reopened part way to permit the level to drop somewhat more slowly and the steam is cut back. After the bath has reached 180 F. the steam is shut off and after two minutes, the drain is again shut off. The level is then maintained for two and one-half minutes additional with the drain shut and the drain is again opened part Way to After about one minute of draining, the drain is again closed and the bath level is maintained for a final two and onehalf minutes. Thereafter, the forms and stockings are lifted clear of the dye and handled according to the usual procedures for nylon stockings.

The dyestufi solution is preferably constantly recirculated during the course of the dyeing and shading operation. By this means the solution is maintained under some agitation so as to maintain its uniformity of composition. The stockings produced according to this example are visibly darker along the center of each side and are shaded progressively lighter toward the front and back portion of the stocking. The successive gradations of color are virtually imperceptible, but the overall diiference in color from darkest to lightest is readily apparent.

It must be kept in mind that in speaking of shading one is referring to relative differences in color which are slight and cannot be precisely defined in exact terms. By the same token, the expressions darker and lighter are relative expressions which defy more precise definitions. The meanings of these expressions as used in the context of this disclosure will, however, be clearly understood. Of necessity, the representations of the two embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 are somewhat exaggerated for illustrative purposes, but it will be readily understood that in the actual embodiments of this invention the lines of demarcation between successive shaded areas are virtually imperceptible.

Although the dyeing form of this invention has been described as used to carry out one particular method, it is to be understood that its use is not so limited. The dyeing form may be used to produce the desired shading by any method of color application or discharge suitable to the material of which the stockings are made. As an example, the progressively shaded areas may be produced through discharge, stripping, bleaching or similar methods of dispelling color from certain portions of dyed stockings.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 725,933, filed April 2, 1958, for Stocking.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A dyeing form for making a shaded womens stocking comprising generally an opposed front and back and two opposed sides and having two opposed longitudinal bands of darker color extending from top to toe of the stockings spaced between two opposed longitudinal bands of lighter color, said darker colored bands varying in intensity from darkest along their center lines in successive graduations to lightest adjacent thebands of lighter color, said dyeing form comprising supporting means for said form; a closed loop member projecting from said supporting means, said loop member being elongated and rigid and generally fiat and in the shape of a womens stocking, said loop member having a straight front element corresponding to the front of a stocking, a slightly bowed back element corersponding to the back portion of a stocking an arcuate heel element and terminating in a toe loop at the end opposite from said sup porting means; and a single rigid straight rod member spaced from said closed loop member, but lying genereally between the front and back portions thereof, said straight rod member projecting from said support means ot a point short of the toe portion of said closed loop and spaced therefrom.

2. An apparatus for making a shaded womens stocking comprising in combination dyeing form according to claim 1 and a tank, the supporting means of said dyeing form being pivotally mounted adjacent said tank, said tank being adapted to contain a dyeing liquid and of a size capable of receiving said dyeing form when swung on its pivotal mount into said tank.

3. A dyeing form according to claim 1 further characterized in that said closed loop member and straight rod member are mounted on said supporting means at a slight angular deviation away from normal with respect to the plane of said supporting means so as to aaper from wider apart adjacent the support means to closer together adjacent the free ends of said members.

4. A dyeing form according to claiml further characterized in that said dyeing form members are composed of stainless steel rod.

5. A dye apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized in that said closed loop member and straight rod member of said dyeing form are so disposed on said supporting means that the straight rod member is disposed vertically downwardly from said loop member when said form is pivoted into said tank.

6. A dyeing apparatus for making a shaded womens knit nylon stocking comprising generally an opposed front and back and two opposed sides and having two opposed longitudinal bands of darker color extending from top to toe along the opposed sides of the stocking spaced between opposed longitudinal front and back bands of lighter color, said darker side bands being tapered from wider at the top to narrower at the bottom and varying in intensity from darkest along their center lines in successive gradations to lightest adjacent the front and back bands of lighter color, said apparatus including in combination a dyeing form and a tank, said dyeing form comprising supporting means for said form; a closed loop member projecting from said supporting means, said loop member being elongated and rigid and generally fiat and in the shape of a womens stoclcng, said loop member having a straight front element corresponding to the front of a stocking, a slightly bowed back element corresponding to the back portion of a stocking, an arcua-te heel element and terminating in a toe loop at the end opposite from said supporting means; and a rigid straight rod member spacedfrom said closed loop member but lying generally between the front and back portions thereof, said straight rod member projecting from said support means to a point short of the toe portion of said closed loop and spaced therefrom; said supporting means being pivotally mounted adjacent said tank, said tank being adapted to contain 7 8 a dyeing liquid and of a size capable of receiving said disposed vertically downwardly from the loop member dyeing form when swung on its pivotal mount into said when said form is' pivoted into said tank. tank; said closed lodp member and straight rod member being mounted on said supporting means at a slight an- References Cited in the file of Patnt gular deviation away from normal with respect to the 5 jN TE T E SATENT plane of said supporting means so as to taper from g wider apart adjacent the support means to closer together 1761402 Meling 'f'f' "'f'" June 1930 adjacent the free ends of said members; said closed loop FOREIGN PATENTS member and straight rod member being so disposed on 434 175 Gem} Britain l l w Aug 27, 9 5,

said supporting means that the straight rod member is 954 046 G m n D c, 13, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2 953 9l5 September 27 1960 C Walter E Brainerd It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2.; line 431 for "'illustory" read illusory -g column 6 line 16, for "corersponding" read corresponding lines 20 and2l for "gener'eally" read generally same column 6 line 42 for "dye" read dyeing -l-; column 8,

line 9 list of references cited under FOREIGN PATENTS for "Gerat Britain" read Great Britain "u Signed and sealed this llth day of April 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

EVRNEST w. SWIDER ARTHUR W. CROCKER 

